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Indian Railways is operating 89 special trains across various destinations to accommodate commuters affected by widespread IndiGo flight cancellations. With full occupancy reported, particularly from metro cities, the special services are set to run until December 12, with routes including Mumbai, Pune, and Howrah. Notably, trains between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station have seen a staggering 126% booking, while services from Howrah to CSMT reached 157%. In response to the surge in demand, additional coaches have been added to existing trains, with Northern and Western Railways enhancing services by incorporating 3AC and chair car coaches. A senior Indian Railways official noted the overwhelming passenger response, with kiosks set up outside major airports to assist travelers. This initiative underscores Indian Railways' commitment to ensuring smooth travel and adequate accommodation during this period of heightened demand, as approximately 450 IndiGo flights were cancelled on Monday. 
Published: Dec 08 2025, 6 pmeznews.inUnion Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced a brainstorming session, or "Chintan Baitak," scheduled for December 22-23 in Karnal, Haryana, aimed at addressing policy gaps and farmers' concerns amid declining agricultural commodity prices. Speaking at an agri-business summit organized by PHDCCI, Chouhan emphasized the need for wider consultations with stakeholders, including experts and industry leaders, to enhance agricultural practices. He highlighted the importance of balanced use of fertilizers and pesticides while advocating for traditional farming methods to combat pests. Ramesh Chand from Niti Aayog projected a 4% growth in the agriculture sector for 2025-26, surpassing China's growth, but noted the necessity for India to achieve a 5% growth rate to meet its development goals. Chouhan also pointed out the disparity between farm-gate prices and consumer prices, stressing the need for improved seed and pesticide management laws to ensure quality inputs for farmers.
Published: Dec 08 2025, 7 pmeznews.inMinister of State in the Finance Ministry, Pankaj Chaudhary, revealed in Lok Sabha that over 44,000 taxpayers have been contacted for failing to disclose cryptocurrency transactions in their Income Tax Returns (ITRs). The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also seized assets worth over ₹4,000 crore linked to crypto-related money laundering cases. Chaudhary noted that the collection of Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) on crypto transactions has more than doubled, rising from ₹221 crore in 2022-23 to over ₹511 crore in 2024-25. He highlighted that the Finance Act 2022 imposes a 1% TDS on virtual digital assets (VDAs), applicable even to offshore transactions. However, some offshore exchanges are reportedly non-compliant. Chaudhary emphasized the need for international cooperation to effectively regulate crypto assets, given their borderless nature, and mentioned significant undisclosed income detected through recent tax enforcement actions.
Published: Dec 08 2025, 7 pmeznews.inIndia and Israel are enhancing their defence collaboration, moving beyond a traditional buyer-seller dynamic to a more integrated partnership. During Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh's recent visit to Tel Aviv, he co-chaired the 17th India-Israel Joint Working Group meeting, where a new Memorandum of Understanding was signed to foster joint development and co-production of defence systems, including advanced technologies like AI and cyber capabilities. This shift is partly driven by Israel's need to diversify its defence production amid declining military exports to India, which is increasingly focusing on self-reliance. Israeli firms, including Israel Aerospace Industries and Elbit Systems, are already establishing joint ventures in India, such as co-producing small arms and unmanned aerial vehicles. Both nations aim to leverage their respective strengths to produce defence products under India's 'Make in India' initiative, with significant developments expected in the coming year.
Published: Dec 08 2025, 7 pmeznews.inFarmers in India have successfully planted winter crops across over 75% of the normal area, covering 637.81 lakh hectares (lh) this year, according to the latest data from the agriculture ministry. Notably, mustard and barley have surpassed their usual planting areas, while wheat, chana (gram), masur (lentil), maize, and paddy are expected to meet seasonal averages in the coming weeks. Overall, the area under all agricultural crops has risen by 6.2% to 479.02 lh compared to 451.12 lh last year. Wheat sowing reached 241.40 lh, up from 217.81 lh, though still below the five-year average of 312.35 lh. The government aims for a foodgrain production target of 171.14 million tonnes, including significant quantities of wheat and oilseeds. Meanwhile, major reservoirs are operating below 90% capacity, despite a 47% surplus in rainfall in the southern region since late November.
Published: Dec 08 2025, 7 pmeznews.inPawan Agarwal, Managing Director of Naini Papers Ltd, has been elected President of the Indian Paper Manufacturers Association (IPMA) during its 26th Annual General Meeting, marking a significant leadership change in the national body representing India's paper sector. Pavan Khaitan, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Kuantum Papers Ltd, has been appointed as the new Vice President. The AGM also saw the nomination of chairpersons for various IPMA sub-committees, including Sushil Kumar Khetan for Commercial & Taxation, Rajesh Kumar Ponnuru for Marketing, A S Mehta for Raw Material, and Ashok Kumar for Technical & Environment. The IPMA plays a crucial role in the ₹1,00,000 crore paper industry, which directly employs 500,000 individuals and supports an additional 1.5 million jobs, representing a diverse range of paper products from large integrated mills across both private and public sectors.
Published: Dec 08 2025, 6 pmeznews.inThe Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA) is nearing completion of a significant reclamation project at Jawahar Dweep, with 95% of the 13-hectare site finished, aimed at enhancing crude throughput efficiency. This ₹2,700 crore initiative, in collaboration with HPCL and BPCL, will facilitate the development of 4.2 lakh tonnes of crude and product tank storage, reducing tanker turnaround times. Additionally, the Sixth Oil Berth project, costing ₹400 crore, will bolster the port's capacity to handle Suezmax vessels, increasing crude-handling capability by 5-6 MTPA. Parallel expansions at Pir Pau include a Fourth Chemical Berth, adding 2-3 MTPA of capacity, supported by 6 hectares of reclaimed land. Future plans involve deepening anchorages and constructing a 5 km offshore trestle to improve cargo movement. The MbPA is also drafting an Integrated Mumbai Port Masterplan 2047 to accommodate projected traffic growth from 68.3 MTPA to 106.2 MTPA by 2053, positioning Mumbai as a key maritime hub.
Published: Dec 08 2025, 6 pmeznews.inAir India successfully implemented new flight duty time regulations mandated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, which took effect on November 1, thanks to proactive measures taken months in advance. The airline configured its crew rostering software two to three months prior to the deadline and rolled out changes a fortnight ahead. With a sufficient number of pilots—650 inducted between April 2022 and September 2023, many from the defunct Go First—and a reduction in flight operations, Air India managed to navigate the transition smoothly, unlike its competitor IndiGo, which faced operational challenges. Currently, Air India operates 4,700 weekly flights, down from 5,600 last year, with a fleet of 187 aircraft serving 82 destinations. An Air India official emphasized the airline's commitment to training and maintenance, stating, "We had done our homework to ensure a smooth transition to the new rules regime."
Published: Dec 08 2025, 6 pmeznews.inDaimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) has unveiled the BB1924, an upgraded heavy-duty bus tailored for India's burgeoning intercity passenger transport market. With a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of 19,500 kg, the BB1924 aims to meet the demands of intercity bus operators seeking increased payload capacity, reduced operating costs, and improved passenger comfort. As the Indian bus market, valued at $51 billion, is projected to grow at a 6% CAGR through 2030, this new chassis positions BharatBenz to enhance its presence in the premium segment. DICV's Head of Bus Business, Andamuthu Ponnusamy, noted that field trials have shown a significant reduction in total ownership costs. The BB1924 can now accommodate an additional tonne of parcel luggage, boosting revenue potential. Available through BharatBenz's 398 authorized touchpoints, the bus will also benefit from competitive financing options in partnership with major banks. The vehicle's price has not been disclosed.
Published: Dec 08 2025, 5 pmeznews.inIndiGo Airlines is facing significant backlash from passengers due to a massive backlog of luggage following extensive flight cancellations last week, which affected over 2,000 flights. The disruptions, attributed to inadequate planning for new pilot rest regulations, have left thousands of bags stranded at airports, including New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. Many passengers have taken to social media to express their frustration, with some highlighting the loss of valuable items such as passports and medications. The Indian government has intervened, demanding that IndiGo trace and deliver all misplaced baggage within 48 hours. As of Saturday, the airline reported the delivery of 3,000 bags, but many travelers, like Vikash Bajpai, remain without their belongings after enduring lengthy delays and multiple connections. An IndiGo executive stated that the airline is working tirelessly to resolve the situation and reunite passengers with their luggage.
Published: Dec 08 2025, 4 pm
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